Inverse function theorem
This article is about a differentiation rule, i.e., a rule for differentiating a function expressed in terms of other functions whose derivatives are known.
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Contents
Statement
Verbal statement
The derivative of the inverse function at a point equals the reciprocal of the derivative of the function at its inverse image point.
Statement with symbols
Version type | Statement |
---|---|
specific point, named functions | Suppose ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
generic point, named functions, point notation | Suppose ![]() ![]() with the formula applicable at all points in the range of ![]() ![]() ![]() |
generic point, named functions, point-free notation | Suppose ![]() ![]() with the formula applicable at all points in the range of ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Pure Leibniz notation using dependent and independent variables | Suppose ![]() ![]() ![]() |
MORE ON THE WAY THIS DEFINITION OR FACT IS PRESENTED: We first present the version that deals with a specific point (typically with asubscript) in the domain of the relevant functions, and then discuss the version that deals with a point that is free to move in the domain, by dropping the subscript. Why do we do this?
The purpose of the specific point version is to emphasize that the point is fixed for the duration of the definition, i.e., it does not move around while we are defining the construct or applying the fact. However, the definition or fact applies not just for a single point but for all points satisfying certain criteria, and thus we can get further interesting perspectives on it by varying the point we are considering. This is the purpose of the second, generic point version.
One-sided version
One-sided versions exist, but we need to be careful about issues of left and right. We state the two cases:
Case for behavior of original function ![]() ![]() |
Short version | Long version (using specific point, named functions) |
---|---|---|
increasing function from left | left hand derivative of ![]() ![]() |
Suppose ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
increasing function from right | right hand derivative of ![]() ![]() |
Suppose ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
decreasing function from left | right hand derivative of ![]() ![]() |
Suppose ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
decreasing function from right | left hand derivative of ![]() ![]() |
Suppose ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Some additional notes:
- For a point in the interior of the domain at which the function is continuous, being increasing on the immediate left forces the function to be increasing on the immediate right, and vice versa. Similarly for decreasing.
- More generally, a continuous one-one function on an interval must be either increasing through the interval or decreasing throughout the interval.
We have been more specific in our statements in the table above to allow for the possibility of piecewise defined functions with discontinuities as well as to tackle the issue of interval endpoints where only one-sided notions make sense.
Infinity-sensitive versions
The following version accounts for the infinity cases. We provide only the specific point, named functions version. Assume that is a one-one function that is continuous at a point
in its domain, with
. There are six cases of interest:
Case for ![]() |
Case for ![]() |
Relation between them | Increase/decrease? | Example |
---|---|---|---|---|
undefined, but approaching ![]() |
zero | -- | Both increasing. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
positive | positive | reciprocals of each other. | Both increasing. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
zero | undefined, but approaching ![]() |
-- | Both increasing. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
zero | undefined, but approaching ![]() |
-- | Both decreasing. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
negative | negative | reciprocals of each other | Both decreasing. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
undefined, but approaching ![]() |
zero | -- | Both decreasing. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
Significance
Version type | Significance |
---|---|
specific point, named functions (two-sided, finite) | This tells us that if a one-one function ![]() ![]() ![]() |
specific point, named functions (two-sided, infinity-sensitive) | This tells us that if a one-one function ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
specific point, named functions (one-sided version) | This tells us that if a one-one function ![]() |
generic point, named functions (two-sided, finite) | This tells us that the inverse of a differentiable one-one function with nowhere zero derivative is also a differentiable one-one function. |
generic point, named functions (two-sided, infinity-sensitive) | This tells us that the inverse of a one-one function that is differentiable or has a vertical tangent at each point is also a one-one function that is either differentiable or has a vertical tangent at each point. |
generic point, named functions (one-sided, infinity-sensitive) | This tells us that the inverse of a one-one function that is one-sided differentiable or has a (one or two-sided) vertical tangent at each point is also a one-one function that is one-sided differentiable or has a (one or two-sided) vertical tangent at each point. |
Note two important caveats:
- The differentiable of
at
gives us information about the differentiability of
, not at
, but at
.
- The reciprocation means we have to be careful about zero and infinity. Thus, the inverse of a differentiable one-one function need not be differentiable everywhere on its domain.
Computational feasibility significance
Version type | Significance |
---|---|
specific point, named functions | Consider a one-one function ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
specific point, named functions (second version) | Consider a one-one function ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
generic point, named functions | Consider a one-one function ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Computational results significance
See the section #Infinity-sensitive versions for some of the basic computational results in this direction.
Examples
Generic point examples
Below we list some examples of functions and their inverse functions to which the inverse function theorem can be fruitfully applied.
Original function | Domain on which it restricts to a one-one function | Inverse function for the restriction to that domain | Domain of inverse function (equals range of original function) | Derivative of original function | Derivative of inverse function | Explanation using inverse function theorem |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
sine function ![]() |
![]() |
arc sine function ![]() |
![]() |
cosine function ![]() |
![]() |
By the inverse function theorem, the derivative at ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
tangent function ![]() |
![]() |
arc tangent function ![]() |
all real numbers | secant-squared function ![]() |
![]() |
By the inverse function theorem, the derivative at ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
natural logarithm ![]() |
![]() |
exponential function ![]() |
all real numbers | reciprocal function ![]() |
exponential function ![]() |
By the inverse function theorem, the derivative at ![]() ![]() |